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The Golden Eagles performed beautifully with 18 seen in 4 days! The week's easterly winds brought out one of my favourite pairs who spent a lot of time sat posing for the telescope.
3 Otters put in an appearance, with one obligingly swimming right towards the shore in front of us (well worth delaying lunch for).
2 late Basking Sharks also gave us views, although a little distant.
Top marks however go to this week's Sea Eagles. With 16 seen in the 4 trips out they didn't quite match the Goldens in numbers, but in terms of spectacle they out performed. Two youngsters talon grappling and soaring very low over the road for 10 minutes were the closest and best view - no need for binoculars.
The best display award however goes to two pairs of adults that had a bit of a territorial dispute and standoff. After a low aerial dogfight the new kids on the block won and took their place on the hill. The older pair retreated begrudgingly to the nearby plantation and made a real racket screeching in annoyance for about 20 minutes before eventually flying off home.
It's that time of year - the youngsters are out and about!
Not too bad a breeding season here on Skye: 12 young Sea Eagles hit the skies, compared to 13 Golden Eagles . . . considering there are many more pairs of Golden Eagles on the island the Sea Eagles are fairing much better, as has been the case in recent years.
We've had some great views in the last week with one newly fledged Golden Eagle being particularly entertaining - first practicing take offs and landings on the hillside, then playing with it's food, dropping it and then stooping down to "kill" it before picking it back up and repeating the exercise. Then the other day it was squaring up to three young Sea Eagles that were on carrion on it's patch.
My favourite Otter, who kicked out her two kids in March, now has another young one to look after. They've been giving us great views this week playing and hunting along the shore.
Further along the coast is another mum with twins, although they've been a little more secretive. But the highlight of the week was nothing to do with the youngsters - a female Otter feeding on a huge Conger Eel on the shore. The Conger was easily twice her size, sadly we'd missed the "catch" as it must have been quite a tussle!
Had a great Tour the other day despite the blustery showers that kept us holed up in the minibus from time to time.
6 Golden Eagles and 5 Sea Eagles were pretty good totals. One of the Goldens kept us entertained while we tried to spot the Otter that was fishing offshore in the challenging conditions. Although we spent ages looking, the wind and choppy waves finally defeated us and we left with not everyone managing to see her.
Further along the coast we were more fortunate with another Otter popping her head up to look at us (beautifully captured in this photo by Ginny), before continuing with her fishing.
Great views of a female Hen Harrier were out done by a later magnificent male as we headed back to Portree.
My personal highlight though was a Spotted Flycatcher hunting from the cemetery fence, refuelling before continuing it's migration.
Returned home today from a trip out with the family to find 4 White Tailed Sea Eagles circling the house. This one had something tasty in it's talons at which it kept picking. A few minutes later my two local Golden Eagles passed by to check on all the activity.
They've been a long time coming, but the Basking Sharks are finally here in numbers.
 Yesterdays tour certainly showed that the summer breeding season is well and truly over and that the Autumn migration is well underway. Whimbrel, Wheatears, Lapwings and Swallows were all on the move.
Our resident Golden Eagles were displaying well with two giving great views during the day. The breeding season is over for them too, with a couple of newly fledged youngsters being seen in the last week.
The minibus has been off the road for a few days being serviced and having it's Council Test. Thankfully I can still get my wildlife fix here at home with my local pair of Golden Eagles displaying over the house.
Pete and Luca took this lovely photo of an Otter on their tour with us the other week. We watched her for a good 10 minutes although this view on the beach was our best.
After their long absence a great count of 9 Basking Sharks close in shore today. One confiding youngster coming right into the loch.
We saw an amazing 10 Golden Eagles on todays tour. Two newly fledged youngsters. Adults posing for the telescope close by. And territorial stooping displays.
I really believe that Skye is the best place in Scotland to see these magnificent birds.
 This very obliging Dragonfly was sat at the roadside a few days ago, while a pair of Sea Eagles were circling nearby.
Geronimo! It's not just the rarities that can provide some enjoyable views.
It's been a busy week with great sightings which culminated in a truly fantastic day today.
5 minutes from Portree we had our 1st Golden Eagle of the day drifting up and down the ridge. A short while later a young Sea Eagle crossed the glen and kindly landed to provide great views in the telescope.
 Lunch gave us two more Golden Eagles and three Sea Eagles as we picnicked in the sun.
We finished the day at Neist with great views of a Minke Whale passing the point and a couple of Harbour Porpoise bobbing by . . . and I caught a bit of a tan too!
There are a family group of Ravens in the glen that were very helpful the other day (more to follow) but for now here is a shot of them all lined up!
The last few Tours have been in brilliant sunshine but it was a different story last week. An annoying first half of the day as the weather forecast was completely wrong, which meant we spent a lot of time driving in thick fog, struggling to see the road let alone any wildlife! Finally I did my own forecasting, and we found a few breaks in the cloud. So lunch was spent watching a Golden Eagle also dodging the worst of the weather as it quartered the far hillside below the cloud bank.
Bad weather doesn't normally affect the Otters, so we hit a lot of territories, initially with no success. But as the afternoon drew to a close we spotted a young female swimming close inshore then disappearing behind a small headland. Moving down the road we soon picked her up again running back down the beach and into the water. She swam a little further then back on to the rocky shore where she hid amongst the boulders before returning to swim. As she faded from sight we had a quick scan for any Divers in the bay . . . and there was another Otter, about 200m out to sea! I've seen male and female Otters together and family groups, but I've never watched two distinctly separate Otters from the same place before. This Otter put on a great display fishing and diving, in fact we had to tear ourselves away eventually as time really was getting on.
I'm not sure how these two Otters fitted in to the area! Possibly a mother and cub, although they usually stick fairly close together. Maybe the first was a youngster just passing through looking for a territory of it's own? . . . . One thing is for certain . . . . I'll be back to try and work it out.
Well today's weather forecast was bang on - driving heavy rain and low cloud all day. I always say don't let bad weather put you off, and certainly put that adage to the test today.
 Despite hardly being able to see the road ahead at times, continually wiping binoculars clear of rain drops, and getting soaked, our tally wasn't bad. Great Northern Diver, a great view of a Snipe, a close Red Deer stag with velvety antlers, Grey Seal, Great Skuas, plus plenty of common species.
But it's all really about enthusiasm and putting in a little effort.
We'd searched the shoreline for a good while, getting wetter and wetter. But that bit of anticipation kept us looking, even though most sane people would be heading for somewhere warm and dry. One last scan of the waves . . . and there was our Otter, diving and hunting, and much better suited to the conditions than we were. She put on a great show for us, finally dragging a huge fish ashore to eat it, and allowing us to admire her in the scope.
I know that most of the UK is bathed in brilliant sunshine . . . but I wouldn't swap - today I was more than happy to be out in the rain.
The weather hasn't been great for the last two Tours, so subsequently the wildlife sightings have been down a little. But I always say that the weather isn't a major factor in having an amazing day, and the last two days have proved this.
The Golden Eagle was where I'd hoped, sitting on the mountain only a few hundred metres away. It looked huge in the scope and posed for a good 15 minutes. Then it flew, and dropping in to wind, headed straight for us. Being a gusty day it dropped lower and lower, passing right over our heads at a height of 15 metres. About as close a view of a Golden Eagle as you are likely to get!
 Today the Sea Eagles took centre stage. Ravens alerted us to possible carrion, and a stooping Gull indicated something on the hill it didn't like. Driving nearer I saw something huge land and scatter the Ravens - a Sea Eagle. Well we had a leisurely lunch watching the goings-on of two adult birds as they carried off bits of carrion, or defended their lunch from a 3rd young Sea Eagle. A 4th youngster drifted by without stopping.
Neither day had lots of different sightings, but the Sea Eagles put on a close display worthy of any TV documentary, and the Golden Eagle is certainly in the running for "Sighting of The Year".
Well the record total of 9 Sea Eagles seen on a Tour was well and truly broken today, with an outstanding 13 sightings. Including four youngsters together, although one was refusing to cooperate and sat almost out of sight while the other three circled the hill. A lovely close flypast while we had lunch (halfway through pouring the coffee!). And another young bird acrobatically dodging a Buzzard. . . . And to top the day off a fantastic close and lengthy view of a female Hen Harrier quartering a moor.
The most amazing thing is that I'm sure this new record will be broken - such are the numbers of Sea Eagles here on Skye.
Well today was all about Sea Eagles in more ways than one!
I took the day off in order to go on an RSPB event regarding Sea Eagle monitoring on Skye. The morning consisted of a boat trip to study territory elements, nest sites and habitat. Sadly it was a wet misty morning and the two Sea Eagles we saw spent most of their time huddled under shelter. Two other Eagles vanished in the gloom before they could be identified properly. The afternoon was at the Aros Centre with talks on Conservation, Persecution, Population Status, etc.
 A great day. But on the way home . . . . . . !!!!
A few hundred metres from my house I saw a young Sea Eagle crossing the glen. I tracked it in the binoculars until it landed, where much to my surprise I saw there were two other Sea Eagles on the ground. Rushing home and grabbing the scope (which of course I'd not taken out) I set it up on my drive and sought out the birds. Well . . . there were eleven Sea Eagles all sat round some carrion, at least two adult birds, the rest being youngsters.
Eleven Sea Eagles is the most I've ever seen together at one time. Add in the two earlier and thirteen is also the highest number for a single day.
If you want to see Sea Eagles then I think you know where to come!
 A busy 7 days that started with a bit of a disappointing day that I had a number of titles for: "Going Cuckoo", "Rabbit out the hat", or "A bad day at the office".
I should point out that the disappointing day included 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Sea Eagles, a school of Harbour Porpoise, Minke Whale, Eider with chicks, and countless Cuckoos seen flying and perched. . . . and the "rabbit out the hat" - a pod of Common Dolphin, very active in the loch. But our main aim of Golden Eagle that day was a distant speck, hence the slight disappointment to our safari.
The subsequent Tours last week amassed a total of 7 more Golden Eagle sightings that were much much better, culminating today with fantastic views of a bird for nearly half an hour as it cruised the ridge, obligingly stopping to perch and pose for the telescope 5 times.
 My personal highlight of the week was also today - a Hooded Crow killing and decapitating a rabbit before flying off with the rabbit's head in it's beak, no doubt to feed some hungry youngsters. . . . I appreciate not everyones idea of a great wildlife sighting, but fascinating . . .
. . . . OK maybe it's just me !!
Well it's been a busy week with some great highlights. The Golden Eagles have been putting on a good show all week, with birds posing for the telescope, and others low overhead where binoculars could be put aside in favour of good-old eyesight alone.
 The wildlife here on Skye is amazing and sometimes it's been a case of choosing what "not" to see as much as what to look for.
Today I shelved the idea of watching the Minke Whales simply as it was grey and misty on the coast . . . great conditions to see the whales, but less so for standing watching them in!
Instead our trip South and East rewarded us with a female otter hunting along the shore. Obligingly she came up on the rocks with a fish and we could put her in the scope. And the decision to head East meant the sun was even shining for our picnic lunch . . . what could be better?
Maybe the Minke will get their turn tomorrow?
We usually get lots of great sightings on our Tours but today's was particularly fantastic for Sea Eagles.
I had good views of an Adult on the hillside as I was driving down to Portree to collect today's guests. But 10 minutes out of Portree we had our first as a group with another adult being mobbed by Greater Black-backed Gulls.
Then a short while later two young birds being escorted out of the area by the resident Golden Eagle. These two were joined by two further young Sea Eagles, then blow me if another two didn't come off the horizon to join them - six in the sky together!
At our lunch stop we watched Sea Eagle number 8 taking a fish back towards it's nest site. He kindly returned, briefly stooping at the water's surface before heading into the trees by the sound. A bit of searching located him sat in a tree where we managed to get the telescope on him.
A high soaring bird brought the Tour's Sea Eagle total to a magnificent 9 for the day. I got a personal total of 11 as I had another youngster cruising the hill behind my house as I unloaded the minibus. . . . Skye really is "Sea Eagle Island".
It's been a busy week with Tours, the last two days giving 7 Golden Eagle and 4 Sea Eagle sightings, although all were rather distant.
Today things got even better. A Sea Eagle, coasting along the Sea Cliff 10 minutes out from Portree, gave great views as it landed on a peak.
Then behind us a Golden Eagle put on a display before rocketing onto what must have been a kill behind a small rise. A short while later 4 Sea Eagles together, albeit distant.
Terns are now back on the island in numbers, unfortunately the Skuas gave us a fleeting glimpse - pretty sure they were Long-Tailed but I didn't get a good enough look.
3 impressive and close Sea Eagles (a great tip-off from Bob . . . thanks).
Our day ended with a beautiful walk to Neist in the sunshine with Puffins and Great Skuas to enjoy amongst many other birds, and a last Sea Eagle which only I will claim as it was a few miles off!
 Well today's weather didn't have much to offer, but Skye's wildlife did! A heavy hail storm wasn't the most auspicious start to today's Tour but we soon left it and Portree behind and within 15 minutes had a young Sea Eagle over the roadside forest. It's presence brought up the local pair of Golden Eagles, and only a few fortunate gusts of wind kept the Sea Eagle out of talons reach as the Goldens were clearly not keen on it being there.
A short while later there were Red-Throated Diver in the foreground, Red Deer on the beach, and another pair of Golden Eagles cruising the hillside. This time the Eagles were on the receiving end as they were buzzed by a pair of Hoodies.
Golden Eagles numbers five and six came soon after, the male bird enjoying the windy conditions and putting on a few stoops for us. I will at this point mention Golden Eagle number seven simply for the sake of completeness - it was a distant speck and only seen by me.
 A huge flock of over 40 Whimbrel was the ornithological highlight of the day, being one of the biggest groups of this passage migrant in Skye this year.
A forlorn single Whooper Swan graced the small loch, lagging well behind his migrating pals. The day ended with two distant and unspectacular Sea Eagles . . . . well it would have been greedy to wish for more!
As I mentioned, the weather for today's tour was pretty bad, we did though still manage to see lots of wildlife.
However, despite driving round a large percentage of Skye and trying to take in all the wildlife hotspots, the best spotting was done from home!
While making breakfast a Golden Eagle flew past the window just 50m up the hill.
Then on the way home as pulled up to open my gate there were 2 . . . then 3 . . . . then 5 . . . . then 7 Sea Eagles circling above my house! Mostly young birds displaying and calling to each other and enjoying the sunshine after a wet day.
 The weather forecast for today's tour was bang on . . . heavy rain, low cloud and a strong breeze. A challenging day to say the least!
We did see a Comic Tern, one of the first arrivals back on Skye. Great Northern and Red-Throated Divers gave us good views as they came close inshore, the Red-Throats even serenading us with their haunting calls.
A Red Deer and her calf sheltered from the rain, the mother lying down as she waited for her youngster to negotiate the fence she'd so easily jumped.
 A lone Puffin bobbed on the water under the cliffs, and the Seals loafed around as usual oblivious to the weather. . . . . And yes we even had one of Skye's famous upward waterfalls.
And despite the rain and cloud we managed to get close views of three Sea Eagles as they patrolled over the forest and loch. . . . . . There was however a touch of irony to my wildlife watching today . . more on that to follow!
 Due to the cold Winter weather delaying Spring this year we have a lot of birds still on feeders because of a shortage of natural food.
This little Siskin was being rather protective of his Nyger seed as you can see.
The Chaffinch didn't miss out though as he joined 30+ of his friends on the ground below, where I'd also scattered seed.
What a great start to BBC One's series "Hebrides: Islands on the Edge" on Monday.
It was a good reminder how lucky I am living and working here on Skye as I've pretty much seen everything that was in the programme in just the last week!
 Whooper Swans and Barnacle Geese have been departing North, with just a few stragglers moving through the island now.
Golden Eagles and Sea Eagles are seen almost every day, sometimes without even having to leave my house.
While we've no Basking Sharks yet I watched the year's first Minke Whales feeding close in offshore yesterday.
Although most of the Red Deer are moving to higher ground now I had roadside views of half a dozen feeding in a garden last week. Seals of course pop up all round the coast and are hard to miss.
And finally, mirroring the events in the TV programme, my favourite Otter looks to have said goodbye to her two cubs this week as we watched her fishing alone along the shore . . . . .
It's a great TV series but why not experience it all for real on a holiday to the Isle of Skye.
Had a little trip up to Neist Point today. I've a few blurry photos of this Great Skua - mainly because it flew three feet over my head and I couldn't focus. Luckily it wasn't being aggressive, it was just heading into land and I was in the way! Minke Whales were just off the point but proved too difficult to photograph today. Puffins, Manx Shearwaters, Kittiwakes, a couple of late Barnacle Geese, and a Whimbrel completed a good day out. . . oh yes and there was a young Sea Eagle by the roadside on the way home but he was hunkered down and not being photogenic today.
The weather forecast for today's Tour may have been poor but the anticipation as always was high . . . . And Skye didn't disappoint. My favourite Otter may have said goodbye to her cubs but she still put on a great solo display fishing in front of us for a good 20 minutes. At first the Golden Eagle was less obliging and proved a challenge to spot on the hillside. But once we had it the telescope brought it into stunning detail as it sat and surveyed the area, it's golden head beautiful even in the grey light. Deer on the shore, a Sea Eagle on the skyline, Red-Throated divers . . well they were diving . . . Common Sandpipers sat on the fence, and of course Seals everywhere. . . . would I have swapped all that for a warm sunny Bank Holiday? . . . no way.
Had a day off today so went out to check up on a few Eagles. I'd hoped to get some Otter photos too but they were too far out and the weather closed in at the time I saw them.
The Great Skuas are back on their breeding grounds. This one was taking a rest from harassing the Kittiwakes.
 This beautiful Gannet was one of a few dozen close inshore at Neist a few days ago, brought in by the blustery showers.
There were well over a thousand Manx Shearwaters too, passing by heading North, but all a bit too far out to get a photo.
 A great Tour today with a total of 8 separate Golden Eagles seen. They included the iconic views of birds drifting over rocky crags and skimming mountain ridges. But one pair in particular gave us fantastically good close views. First they played a bit of hide and seek as they vanished against the hillside. Next gliding in the open sky. Then one stooped at a lamb but it was too slow, the lamb too quick and the ewe too vigilant. However the eagle landed on the hilltop and posed for us for a while before hopping a short distance to a bit of carrion, seemingly unnoticed before, for a spot of lunch.
Majestic though the Golden's were I was keen to add at least one Sea Eagle, and right at the end of our day we spotted a youngster sat on a nearby hill. Huge in the telescope but appearing even bigger when it flew. It too went down on some carrion with a group of Ravens but soon departed giving yet more great views as it slowly left the area. . . . . And I got bitten by the first midge of Spring!
Last October, in the pouring rain we found these two White-Tailed Sea Eagles sitting on two hillocks next to each other. Surrounded by Ravens they were sitting above a dead sheep. They had obviously had their fill, and the Ravens and Hooded Crows were now feeding.
The Sea Eagles were sitting separately, but the female was being harried by the Ravens. They even tried pulling her tail feathers.
Finally she had enough and flew to join the male. She landed on a rock near to him, but that was obviously not to his liking as he stalked off to his own space.
Female on the left and male on the right.
Lucky sighting? Not quite, Isle of Skye Wildlife Tours spot!
Not all wildlife sightings bring a smile to my face. . . My local pair of Golden Eagles drifted over my house yesterday morning. They were there hanging in the sky when I got home too, one passing each side of the house. And again this morning they passed by my bedroom window . . . One of them should be on a nest at the moment, so it sadly looks like their breeding attempt for this year has failed. Not sure if it was the bad weather of recent weeks but that's the likely cause.
 Had some work to do around the house so stayed in yesterday.
That didn't stop me staring wistfully out of the window from time to time however. Just as well really as this young Sea Eagle decided to fly over the house. Just had time to grab the camera and get a shot.
As you can see it didn't seem to be expecting some madman with a camera to appear below it and seems to be giving me a rather disdainful look!
A Little Gull appeared at Staffin the other day - I actually forgot I'd seen this Skye rarity until today when I reviewed my photos of the week !!
No Tour today so what did I do with my "day off"? . . . Well I went out looking for wildlife of course!
The weather was still wet and cloudy but this was a trip with personal objectives. I slowed the minibus slightly as I passed the Otter but didn't stop. I'm never complacent seeing such stunning wildlife but I know her well and will catch up with her another day.
Today was about the adventurers, the vanguard of Spring's migration. And there was the first, in the scrub by the Kylerhea slipway, a Willow Warbler, the first the reach Skye's shores this year. Not long after I saw my first Swallows and a solitary Sand Martin, again the first arrivals on Skye have been reported today . . . . And OK, although I rudely dismissed the Otter earlier I took delight in watching a male Merlin hunting Meadow Pipits (unsuccessfully). . . And then there was the Golden Eagle, first seen when I searched the skies to see what had spooked a roost of gulls. He appeared later circling low so I went to get the scope - and of course he'd disappeared when I returned moments later. I wondered why such a leisurely fellow had gone so quickly . . . the answer came seconds later as I saw him vanish over the horizon dangling a rabbit.
Over 18mm of rain, average wind speeds of 50mph gusting to 60mph (storm force 10), low cloud, poor visibility . . . today's Tour was always going to be a bit of a challenge! I love sharing the fantastic wildlife this island has to offer but it's part of the job taking on the elements and sometimes you have to admit defeat . . . . . but not today . . . . well not quite.
 Skye's waterfalls were at their magnificent best and we even had our famous upwards falls at times with the wind blowing the water straight back up the cliffs and into the sky. Gannets were fishing Kyle Rhea. A lone Whooper Swan continues to both concern and delight me.
The seals didn't care and eyed us from the loch. A Raven peaked from it's lofty nest. . . . And the family of Otters gave us fantastic views as the fished and frolicked in the waves . . . And I was relieved we'd seen something special, and called it a score draw with Mother Nature!
 Another stunning view of a Sea Eagle today. No wing tags on this one and it's a sub-adult with a little dark fringing still on its tail feathers. One of the many young birds congregating in central Skye at the moment.
 And quite often the Sea Eagles, in particular, give us a really close flypast.
 Despite having had snow the day before yesterday, spring has definitely arrived with the first violets appearing.
Fulmars are back on their breeding grounds and were making lots of noise today.
Interesting tour today . . . clear bright blue skies and sunshine always make spotting flying birds difficult, plus the heat haze spoils the image through the scope.
Oh and with this weather I also caught the sun a little - occupational hazard I suppose being out in the beautiful Scottish Spring weather.
But enough of my complaining Just the three eagles today, all a little distant. Two perched Goldens refusing to fly, and a single Sea Eagle gaining both height and distance.
But good views of Seals, Great-Northern and Red-Throated Divers, Black Guillemot, Eider, Little Grebe. A good day despite the weather!
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